My rants about concealed carry holsters. What works, what doesn't and why.

Finding that "perfect" concealed carry holster is almost a never ending quest for individuals who carry concealed. Most people go through a series of holsters in a trial and error process trying to find the perfect combination of comfort and concealment.

In most cases, handgun owners end up with the proverbial "box of holsters" that end up sitting around without being used.

Finding a holster for the 4" Kimber TLE-RL model (or any railed 4" 1911 pistol) is always a challenge. Holsters built for the non-railed 4" 1911 models won"t fit the railed TLE-RL due to the picatinny rail. As such, these types of pistols require a holster made specifically for them, Luckily, we can help now as MTR Custom is now making holster models to fit any railed 4" 1911 handgun. Read more here: http://www.gunnersalley.com/1911-4-inch-barrel-with-rail/

MTR Custom is now offering holsters to fit the newer Beretta 92A1 and 96A1. The new frame with the integrated picatinny rail and round trigger guard means that holsters made for the original Beretta 92 or 96 series won"t fit the new 92 ot 96 A1 series. Read more about theese holsters here: http://www.gunnersalley.com/beretta-92a1-96A1-holsters/

It’s funny how we get set in our ways. I have been carrying a concealed weapon for about 20 years. I carry my pistol just behind my right hip. I am on the thinner side, so I found if I carry IWB, I can conceal most service size pistols that way. It works for me. It works on the range, in training classes, and seems to work when I am out and about. When I look at holsters, I evaluate them based on their usefulness to me in a behind the hip position.

Last Summer I suffered a rotator cuff injury that prevented me from not only raising my right arm more than about 20 degrees, I was also not able to reach backwards. At all. My right arm was pretty much useless for the better part of 6 weeks. During physical therapy, I regained limited use of my arm and shoulder and achieved some degree of movement, although not enough to reach back to my normal carry position. I decided to try carrying in the appendix position. Using a Don Hume H715MWC, I found that I could easily reach in front of me to access my pistol. As my PT progressed, so did my ability to quickly access my handgun. With practice, carrying the H715M at 2 o’clock (rather than 4 o’clock) became second nature. I have found that the lack of cant in the H715M makes it much easier for me to draw from now. There is no strain on my shoulder when I lift the gun straight out of the holster like there is when I draw from a rig with a slight forward cant. This simple holster is proving to be very versatile and is capable of serving its user in other ways besides just as a strong side IWB.

It has been 9 months since my injury. I started lifting weights again about 4 weeks ago. I can finally reach back behind my hip and draw a handgun without pain, but I do have to limit the number of repetitions to avoid soreness the next day. Strange thing is, I now find myself grabbing one of my Hume H715M’s and using appendix carry rather than strong side.

As I continue to heal, only time will tell if I move back to strong side carry. Each has its merits and its drawbacks, but I would not have discovered this other option for CCW if I had not injured my shoulder. Take a look at your own habits, maybe there is a way that you do something now that you could improve on. If you have a Don Hume H715MWC, try it in the appendix position and see how it works for you. You may just discover another (or a better) CCW option that you have been overlooking.

Since the Colt Mustang XSP model was introduced by Colt in 2013, we’ve been periodically getting calls about holsters to fit it. To make it easier for folks when shopping our site, here are some commonly asked questions about holster fits for the XSP model and the information that we can provide:

#1 – Will a holster made for the original Colt Mustang fit the new XSP version?

Not likely as the new XSP model has a more squared trigger guard while the original Mustang series is round. Also, the XSP model is equipped with a picatinny rail which makes the slide on the XSP wider than the original Mustang.

#2 – Will a holster for the older generation or newer generation Colt Pocketlite .380 fit the new Mustang XSP version?

Our experience has been that neither the original Pocketlite series or the newer 2nd generation Colt Pocketlite series will fit the Mustang XSP. While the dimensions on the Pocketlite are very close to the XSP, the trigger guard and light rail issues mentioned above cause the same fit problems.

#3 – I saw some information on a forum saying that the new XSP would fit a holster for the Sig P238. is this correct?

Not based on our test fits. While the P238 is somewhat similar in size and action, a Mustang XSP wouldn’t fit into a holster molded specifically for the P238.

#4 – Does Don Hume make a holster to fit the Mustang XSP?

Hume makes holsters to fit the 1st generation Colt Mustang, but nothing to fit the new XSP version at the time this post was written. We have spoken with Don Hume management, and, at this point, they haven’t seen enough inquires to justify the cost of tooling up to produce holsters for the XSP yet.